Basketball World Cup
“A man’s game”: DBB team warned of Georgia’s giants
Have Georgia on their chest: Gordon Herbert (r) and Captain Dennis Schröder. photo
© Soeren Stache/dpa
So far, the German basketball players have won all the games at the World Cup in Japan. The same is expected against Georgia. But the head coach is assuming a special test.
National basketball coach Gordon Herbert holds the next opponent Georgia for one of the most physical and resilient teams at the World Cup.
“They are a very big team. They are one of the best teams we can meet in the zone. It will be a man’s game,” announced the 64-year-old Canadian before the match today (10.30 a.m. / Magentasport). Herbert referred to the size and power of the Georgians, who have two giants under the basket in Goga Bitadze (2.11 meters) and Giorgi Schermadini (2.17 meters).
“100 percent focused on Georgia”
There are already public discussions and arithmetic games as to how Germany will reach the quarter-finals in Manila. In addition to the third place in the European Championship, it is usually about Slovenia with superstar Luka Doncic and Australia. Herbert does not want to participate in such speculation.
“We in the team don’t talk too little about Georgia. We prepare carefully, as always. We are 100 percent focused on Georgia,” said Herbert. He himself provided evidence of this when he skipped Wednesday’s fan meeting in the coastal town of Chatan because he was watching Georgia v Venezuela in the arena with his assistant coaches at the same time.
Young star Franz Wagner there?
With the fourth World Cup victory in a row, Dennis Schröder and Co. would extend their record start. The qualification for the finals in the Philippines would still not be fixed. Only with Slovenia’s victory over Australia (2:10 p.m.) would there be any more doubts.
“Every game at a World Cup is complicated and difficult. We really have to focus on it,” said Captain Schröder. Coach Herbert left open whether young star Franz Wagner would play after his ankle injury or not. A decision will only be made on the day of the game.